Click ahead to see The Oregonian's white wine ranking from best to worst.

Click ahead to see The Oregonian's white wine ranking from best to worst.

Photo: The Oregonian/OregonLive

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BEST: Provisions Pinot Gris, 3L (Fred Meyer) To be honest, we weren’t really wowed by any of the white wines, but we found this boxed wine to be crisp, refreshing and the most straight-from-the-bottle convincing. Pour this one for company and they might not know the difference.

House Wine Chardonnay, 3L (Fred Meyer) This fruity, easy-drinking white with a hint of coconut would be a great happy hour pour.

Price per bottle: $3.59

Price per box: $14.39

House Wine Chardonnay, 3L (Fred Meyer) This fruity, easy-drinking white with a hint of coconut would be a great happy hour pour.

Price per bottle: $3.59

Price per box: $14.39

Photo: The Oregonian/OregonLive

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Franzia Vintner Select Chardonnay, 5L (Fred Meyer) Color us surprised. The wine we thought would make a great porch-drinking wine was none other than Franzia, the “world’s most popular wine” that’s a particular favorite for college drinking games like slap the bag and the eponymous Tour de Franzia.

Badger Mountain Pure White 2016 Columbia Valley Organic White Wine, 3L (Fred Meyer) We’re about to enter the “smells good, tastes bad” region, where most of the next few wines smelled promising, but didn’t stick the landing. This locally produced white had a perfume-y nose, but was flat and had an aftertaste like moldy cheese, which we like in ciders but not as much in wine.

WORST: Vin Vault California Chardonnay, 3L (Fred Meyer) This wine apparently was rated the “overall best tasting boxed wine brand,” according to a medal printed on the box. Well, sorry The Tasting Panel. This was definitely the worst boxed wine we drank, not only across the white wines, but the reds, too. This tasted like suntan lotion and regret.

Block Red Wine Cabernet Sauvignon, 3L (Trader Joe's) This one smelled like grandpa’s attic in a good way, with a light coconut nose. It’s good for pairing with food or drinking on its own. And, it’s also one we already keep on the counter.

Block Red Wine Cabernet Sauvignon, 3L (Trader Joe's) This one smelled like grandpa’s attic in a good way, with a light coconut nose. It’s good for pairing with food or drinking on its own. And, it’s also

Bota Box 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, 3L (Fred Meyer) With big fruit and a little must on the nose, this dry and earthy wine was one of our favorites.

Price per bottle: $3.77

Price per box: $15.11

Bota Box 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, 3L (Fred Meyer) With big fruit and a little must on the nose, this dry and earthy wine was one of our favorites.

Price per bottle: $3.77

Price per box: $15.11

Photo: The Oregonian/OregonLive

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Bandit Cabernet Sauvignon, 3L (Fred Meyer) This dry, berry-forward wine has a big personality and is one you’d definitely want to introduce to the parents.

Price per bottle: $4.16

Price per box: $16.64

Bandit Cabernet Sauvignon, 3L (Fred Meyer) This dry, berry-forward wine has a big personality and is one you’d definitely want to introduce to the parents.

Price per bottle: $4.16

Price per box: $16.64

Photo: The Oregonian/OregonLive

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Duas Uvas Vinho Tinto, 3L (QFC) This jammy, Portuguese wine has a nose of wet rocks and a dark, secretive past. This wine probably committed petty theft in its teenage years, but it’s really matured since then.

Duas Uvas Vinho Tinto, 3L (QFC) This jammy, Portuguese wine has a nose of wet rocks and a dark, secretive past. This wine probably committed petty theft in its teenage years, but it’s really matured since

Domaine le Clos des Lumieres Cotes du Rhone, 3L (QFC) Book sniffers, this one’s for you. With an old-book nose, this dry, thought-provoking yet mild wine is one you’d drink slowly with an old favorite in hand.

Domaine le Clos des Lumieres Cotes du Rhone, 3L (QFC) Book sniffers, this one’s for you. With an old-book nose, this dry, thought-provoking yet mild wine is one you’d drink slowly with an old favorite in

Ananto Bobal & Tempranillo, 3L (QFC) Charred barrel on the nose, juicy mouthfeel, but no aftertaste and kind of bland.

Price per bottle: $3.82

Price per box: $15.29

Ananto Bobal & Tempranillo, 3L (QFC) Charred barrel on the nose, juicy mouthfeel, but no aftertaste and kind of bland.

Price per bottle: $3.82

Price per box: $15.29

Photo: The Oregonian/OregonLive

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Lab Tinto, 3L (QFC) We found it, folks. This wine is the epitome of boxed red wine. It’s red and it comes in a box.

Price per bottle: $4.04

Price per box: $16.19

Lab Tinto, 3L (QFC) We found it, folks. This wine is the epitome of boxed red wine. It’s red and it comes in a box.

Price per bottle: $4.04

Price per box: $16.19

Photo: The Oregonian/OregonLive

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Espiga Tinto, 3L (Fred Meyer) This wine tastes like it sat out on a counter for a week and lost all of its characteristics.

Price per bottle: $4.61

Price per box: $18.44

Espiga Tinto, 3L (Fred Meyer) This wine tastes like it sat out on a counter for a week and lost all of its characteristics.

Price per bottle: $4.61

Price per box: $18.44

Photo: The Oregonian/OregonLive

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Franzia Vintner Select Cabernet Sauvignon, 5L (Fred Meyer) Another surprise: We didn’t hate this Franzia either, though it was bland and watery. The wine’s mild coriander flavor might be a turnoff for those with a distaste for cilantro.

Franzia Vintner Select Cabernet Sauvignon, 5L (Fred Meyer) Another surprise: We didn’t hate this Franzia either, though it was bland and watery. The wine’s mild coriander flavor might be a turnoff for those

WORST: Vin Vault California Chardonnay, 3L (Fred Meyer) This wine apparently was rated the “overall best tasting boxed wine brand,” according to a medal printed on the box. Well, sorry The Tasting Panel. This was definitely the worst boxed wine we drank, not only across the white wines, but the reds, too. This tasted like suntan lotion and regret.

Provisions Merlot, 3L (Fred Meyer) Tastes musty, old attic in a bad way, like pulling out clothes you haven’t worn in five years. Astringent.

Price per bottle: $3.77

Price per box: $15.11

Provisions Merlot, 3L (Fred Meyer) Tastes musty, old attic in a bad way, like pulling out clothes you haven’t worn in five years. Astringent.

Price per bottle: $3.77

Price per box: $15.11

Photo: The Oregonian/OregonLive

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Our Daily Red California Red Wine 1.5L (Whole Foods) This wine tastes like cookies? It’s also the only wine that doesn’t come in a bag, just a box, so once you open it, you only have a few days to drink it.

Our Daily Red California Red Wine 1.5L (Whole Foods) This wine tastes like cookies? It’s also the only wine that doesn’t come in a bag, just a box, so once you open it, you only have a few days to drink

If you’re trying to drink wine on a budget and you’re not drinking boxed wine, you’re missing out.

Boxed wine has long been one of the most maligned wines in the industry, even though it’s always been the more affordable and environmentally friendly option. In the past few years, boxed wine has grown into a compelling genre of its own, reaching beyond the familiar Franzia and Carlo Rossi to include European brands and even local Oregon and Washington wineries.

On a recent fateful evening with the upcoming winter holidays in mind, we sat down and blind-sampled 45 boxed wines -- 19 white and 26 red wines -- to bring you this ranked guide to the best and the worst wines available at major grocery stores across the city.

For both reds and whites, we tried to buy the same variety. Most of the whites are pinot grigio, with a handful of sauvignon blanc and chardonnay (not our favorite) mixed in, depending on what producers offered. Reds are mostly cabernet sauvignon with an occasional merlot, pinot noir or Italian/Spanish variety.

Wines were purchased from Fred Meyer, QFC, New Seasons, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods. We found the most wines at Fred Meyer and QFC, which both had a sale running when we bought the wines. The price/bottle calculations are based on what we paid, but may vary when you make your purchase.

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Go ahead and buy the box! There are benefits to drinking wine in a box over the bottled variety.

Media: Brandpoint

Here's our guide to every boxed wine we could find at major grocery stores, ranked from best to worst.